Black 47 - Paul Robeson (Born To Be Free) Lyrics
You can wreck my name, vilify me, stretch me on the rackBut I won't bow down to any man, be he white or be he blackTake away my passport, refuse to let me travelBut I will not get down on my knees,You're never gonna make me grovelThere's a lot more to democracy than havin' a voteI'm the equal here of any man, free my people, let them goThese chains around my body are never gonna hold meAnd I refuse to be a slave in my own countryThe great are only great 'cause we're down on our kneesRise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be freeBorn to be freeYou can call me a traitor but I love my countryAnd I will not sell out it because of your hypocrisyI refuse to hide behind the Fifth, I've no fear of honestyYou always know exactly where I am, so why don't you justCome on over here and get meYou can tap my phone but there's one thing you will never hear'Cause the drumbeat of freedom wasn't meant for your slaves' earsI'll never turn my back on my comrades and my friendsThe poor and the dispossessed, the women and the menThe great are only great 'cause we're down on our kneesRise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be freeBorn to be freeI stand here struggling for the rights of my people to be full citizens in this country and they are not!Close your halls to stop me singin'Close your minds to stop me speakin'Close your kitchens to stop me eatin'Close your hotels to stop me sleepin'But I'll never turn my back on my comrades and my friendsThe poor and the dispossessed, the women and the menThe great are only great 'cause we're down on our kneesRise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be freeBorn to be freeThese chains around my body are never gonna hold meAnd I refuse to be a slave in my own countryThe great are only great 'cause we're down on our kneesRise up, my brothers and sisters, we were born to be freeBorn to be freeI am born and bred in this America of ours. I want to love it, but we must have the courage to shout at the top of our voices about our injustices, and we must lay the blame right where it has belonged for over three hundred years of slavery and misery - right here on our own doorstep.My father was a slave, and my people died to build this country, and I'm going to stay here and have a part of it just like you! And no facist-minded people will drive me from it--is that clear?
